Canberra Raiders
Encyclopedia
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League
(NRL) premiership since 1982. Over this twenty-nine season period the club has won 3 premierships, (out of 5 Grand Final
s played), received 1 wooden spoon and had a total of 15 of its players (9 New South Wales Blues
and 6 Queensland Maroon
s) selected to don the green and gold for Australia. The Raiders' current home ground is Canberra Stadium
in Bruce
. Previously, the team played home matches at Seiffert Oval
in Queanbeyan, New South Wales
, with the move to Canberra Stadium taking place in 1990. The official symbol for the Canberra Raiders is the Viking
. The Viking, also a mascot at Raiders' games, is known as Victor the Viking.
As part of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership
's first expansion outside Sydney, the Raiders were admitted to the League, along with the Illawarra Steelers
in 1982. Over the following years they improved steadily, becoming the first non-Sydney team to make the finals (1984), feature in a grand final (1987) and win a premiership (1989). This heralded a period of great success for the club, with five grand final appearances and three premierships in eight years. During this period, the Raiders boasted international players such as Mal Meninga
, Laurie Daley
, Ricky Stuart
, Glenn Lazarus
and Steve Walters
. After this came the Super League war
, with the Raiders switching to the rebel competition before continuing to compete in the re-unified NRL. During the 2000s the Raiders suffered from an exodus of experience. At the beginning of the 2009 season, the Raiders squad contained only four players who have played at the representative level. Joel Monaghan
and Terry Campese
each represented the Australian side during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, with Monaghan also playing for the NSW blues during the third game of the 2008 State of Origin Series. Also, Bronson Harrison has represented New Zealand. However call ups for captain Alan Tongue to Country Origin, David Shillington to the Queensland State of Origin side and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs to the New South Wales Origin side now sees the Raiders with a solid spread of representative players in their squad.
(NSWRFL) was looking to expand its Sydney-based premiership
into other areas of the state. The Canberra franchise was accepted in 1981 as the 14th team for the 1982 NSWRFL season. Along with the Illawarra Steelers
who were also introduced that season, they became the first NSWRFL club based outside Sydney since the old Newcastle
team left in 1909.
", in what was also a reference to the team's colours. In fact, no team has conceded more tries in a season than the 1982 Raiders. The first points recorded by the Canberra Raiders were scored by Peter McGrath (later to become Chairman of the Australian Rugby Union). McGrath finished with 41 points in his first and only season with the Raiders. The club's first win, a 12–11 heartstopper v Newtown, came in its 8th match, and 3 more wins followed, most notably against then competition leaders Souths. 1983 saw 9 wins, more than doubling 1982's four. However, the team continued to struggle to win away from home. An away win first up in 1984 foreshadowed a much improved season, a positive winning record (13–11) snagging a playoff for fifth versus Souths. But this game was lost (4–23), and the Raiders had still not succeeded in reaching the semi-finals of the competition.
1985 saw regression, with the team winning only 8 games (though the reserves did reach the Grand Final). Though 1986 was similarly disappointing, the team had a core group of players, such as Mal Meninga
, Gary Belcher
, Steve Walters
, and John Ferguson who would greatly influence the coming decade.
This was the most successful period in the Raiders' short history, with 5 Grand Finals and 3 premierships. In 1987, the team finished third, resulting in a maiden semi-finals appearance. Despite losing their first finals match against Easts, the Raiders rallied to defeat Souths (46–12) and Easts again (32–24). The latter earned the team a place in the Grand Final, but they were never really competitive against minor premiers Manly, going down 8–18.
Laurie Daley
, Peter Jackson and Glenn Lazarus
debuted this year. 1988 featured free-scoring (over 100 tries in 22 games) and a number of large victories, with the team again finishing in third place on the ladder. Unfortunately, a narrow loss against Canterbury
in the Major Semi-Final was followed by defeat against Balmain
and an early exit.
Notable players starting out in 1988 were Bradley Clyde
, and Ricky Stuart
.
With 5 rounds to play in the 1989 season, Canberra were 7th and in danger of missing the semis. But a hard fought 14–10 win over Easts started a 9 match winning streak, culminating in the club's first Premiership. In one of the all-time great Grand Finals, the Raiders sent the game into extra time after a late John Ferguson try that was converted by Meninga. Steve Jackson scored the winning try to win the premiership for the Raiders. The Raiders then went on to play in England at Old Trafford
in the first official World Club Challenge
against 1988–89 RFL champions, Widnes
. However they were not able to win going down 30–18 in front of 30,768 people.
in the decider. Trouble brewed in 1991 as the club was embroiled in salary cap
hardships. Nonetheless, a fourth Grand Final birth was secured – the team's third in a row. However, the team went down to Penrith in a repeat of the 1990 Grand Final. Jason Croker, the team's longest serving player, debuted this year.
The fallout from the salary cap imbroglio saw several players leave the club, most prominently Glenn Lazarus, Brent Todd, David Barnhill, Nigel Gaffey and Paul Martin. An average performance resulted, with the Raiders missing the finals for the first time since 1986. David Furner
, son of former Raiders and Australian coach Don Furner
, started out in this year.
Since their final premiership in 1994, the Raiders have been unable to scale their previous heights, largely due to their inability to lure representative players to the capital. The team bowed out in Round 1 of the 1996 finals series, losing to St George. The next year, they were one of several teams that joined the breakaway Super League competition
, losing in the preliminary final to the Cronulla Sharks
. It was upon rejoining the newly formed National Rugby League
the following year that the team began their decline. The Raiders' problems came to a head in the late 1990s, when club legends Ricky Stuart
and Bradley Clyde
were forced out in order to accommodate players such as Brett Finch
. Finch would ironically leave the Raiders soon after to play under Stuart, now a coach at the Cronulla Sharks
.
in the opening finals game, but still advanced to Week 2 due to ladder position. In one of the closest games in recent history, the Raiders were eclipsed by one point in the preliminary final by the New Zealand Warriors
and eliminated from the 2003 competition.
Many fans believed the achievements of 2003 would be improved in the following years. However, the Raiders finished a disappointing 8th in 2004, being knocked out in week one of the finals by the Sydney Roosters. Club legends Ruben Wiki
and Mark McLinden
left the Raiders for other clubs in this year. Wiki's loss, in particular, was a bitter pill to swallow for many Raiders fans, as it was found that the New Zealand Warriors had significantly breached the salary cap in signing him (the Warriors eventually paid the price for this, being docked four competition points at the beginning of the 2006 season). The 2005 side was written off by fans and critics alike, as the club's two major signings, Jason Smith and Matt Adamson
, were ageing veterans considered well past their prime. However, both, particularly Smith, proved formidable campaigners, and the Raiders were joint competition leaders in Round 10. But as the season progressed, injuries took their toll and the Raiders finished second last on points differential to the Newcastle Knights
. The Raiders started season 2006 heavy favourites to run last, but despite this pessimism and heavy losses to the Knights and the Roosters early on, fought back and guaranteed themselves a finals berth with a round to play.
2006 saw club stalwarts Simon Woolford
, Clinton Schifcofske
and the club's longest serving player, Jason Croker
, leave the club, going to St George Illawarra, the Queensland Reds rugby union team and the European Super League
club Catalans Dragons
respectively. Outgoing backs Schifcofske and Adam Mogg both earned representative berths with Queensland in State of Origin. Saturday 9 September 2006 saw Jason Croker, Simon Woolford, Clinton Schifcofske, Michael Hodgson, Jason Smith and Adam Mogg all play their final games for the club. The round one finals series clash with the Bulldogs
saw the Raiders defeated 30–12 in slippery and muddy conditions at Telstra Stadium
, and eliminated from the 2006 premiership race. This was also the final match for coach Matthew Elliott, who is coaching Penrith in 2007. His replacement is former North Queensland Cowboys' assistant coach Neil Henry.
In 2007, the Raiders were an unknown quantity. Having lost star players such as Schifcofske, Smith, Croker and Woolford in key positions, the Raiders found themselves with a new captain in Alan Tongue
relying on young, inexperienced players such as Todd Carney
, William Zillman
and Michael Dobson
to step up and take on more prominent roles within the team. The sense of inexperience was reinforced by the selection of Neil Henry
as coach, despite his lack of first-grade coaching experience. Though the Raiders were bolstered by late season signings Neville Costigan
and Matt Bickerstaff
, several critics believed that the Raiders' significant loss of experience would result in their "winning" the wooden spoon.
2007 was, overall, a disappointing season for the Raiders, who finished in 14th place despite entering the top 8 midway through the season. However, two players – Phil Graham
for Country Origin and Neville Costigan
for Queensland – achieved representative status. The season was notable for the difference in the team's performance at and away from home, with just 2 of their 9 wins occurring outside Canberra. Coach Neil Henry
incurred a fine of $10 000 for questioning the impartiality of the referee after the round 19 clash.
The 2008 season started with some promise for the Raiders – a good showing despite a loss in round 1 vs. Newcastle was followed up with two solid wins against Penrith and St.George-Illawarra. The club then suffered a series of losses, whilst snaring only the occasional victory, with a big come from behind victory against Wests being noteworthy. In the representative field, Todd Carney and Joel Monaghan
picked for Country Origin, and Monaghan being a shadow player for the New South Wales Side.
In September 2008, despite a heavy injury toll, the Raiders guaranteed themselves a place in the NRL 2008 Finals Series winning seven of their last nine regular season games, a feat which was at the start of the season impossible according to Rugby League punditry in Australia. The Raiders semi-final appearance was brief, however. After being defeated by the Cronulla Sharks, the Raiders 6th place finish was considered to be enough to get them a second chance. However, a huge upset with 8th place New Zealand defeating minor premiers Melbourne saw the Raiders eliminated.
The season had not been without controversy however, with star halfback Todd Carney and fullback Bronx Goodwin being stood down by the club after an altercation at a Canberra nightclub following the round 19 win against the Roosters. Carney was eventually dismissed by the club after failing to agree to the punishment plan the club had laid out for him, Goodwin was also sacked from the club.
A slow start to the 2009 season saw the raiders lose to the tigers and the roosters. However with the help from under 20s debutants Josh Dugan, Jarrad Croker and Travis Waddell they won their next two matches. Despite a disappointing season for the raiders losing to many close games the raiders were able to beat the Melbourne Storm
for the first time in 14 games and 7 years 26–16 in round 16 to keep their slim finals hopes alive. The Raiders also had a memorable win over the number one team at the time St George-Illawarra Dragons, by 24–12. Despite wins against three of the top four (St George Illawarra Dragons, Gold Coast Titans and the Melbourne Storm) and coming within three points of the other (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) losses to bottom placed teams Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters at home saw the raiders finish in 13th.
in the opening round however against early-season expectations that the Raiders would again struggle the club posted early season wins over Brisbane in round two, Parramatta in round five and the New Zealand Warriors
in round eight in New Zealand in what was the club's first win in New Zealand since the early 2000s. However, losses to Todd Carney's new club the Roosters
in round six and a narrow loss at home to the South Sydney Rabbitohs
in round seven saw the club sitting second from last after round seven (last had the Melbourne Storm
not been stripped of competition points due to salary cap breaches) of the 2010 season. Wins over the ladder-leading Dragons and the Gold Coast Titans
followed until a four-game losing streak ensued; with the club sitting third from last after a round 17 home loss to the Roosters in what was Todd Carney
's return to the nation's capital. The Raiders then began a run similar to that of Parramatta
last year; winning eight of their next nine regular season matches to sneak into the top eight by season's end. The regular season's highest home attendance came when 20,445 fans filled Canberra Stadium to see the Raiders defeat the ladder-leading Dragons 32-16 for the second time in the season.
The Raiders advanced to the finals on the back of eight wins from their past nine and were drawn a tough away final against the second-placed Penrith Panthers
whom the Raiders had beaten just five weeks earlier. The Raiders led from the start and despite lapses at times during the match the Raiders managed to sniff out a narrow 24-22 win, thus achieving its first final win in a decade, which ironically was also against the Panthers. This saw the Raiders draw a home final against the Wests Tigers
in round two of the finals. Having lost to the Tigers twice during the regular season, it was hoped that a record crowd of 26,746 would inspire the Raiders to continue their fairytale run deep into the finals, however a missed penalty attempt by Jarrod Croker
in the final minutes of the match saw Canberra lose by 26-24 and therefore draw a curtain on the Raiders' 2010 season.
The Raiders off season didn't start well, with Joel Monaghan being sacked by the club for inappropriate behaviour with a team mates dog. This appeared to be a team building exercise, as photos surfaced showing the rest of the team cheering him on.
The Raiders, looking to build on their strong finish to the 2010 season in 2011, bolstered its already strong roster with the addition of Blake Ferguson
, Brett White
and former Dally M medalist Matt Orford
. The latter signing was an important one for the Raiders as vice-captain and star playmaker Terry Campese
is out indefinitely due to a knee injury suffered in the semi-final loss to Wests at the end of the 2010 season.. After starting the season with a 40-16 thumping of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in round one, the Raiders have since lost their last eight matches in succession, and were sitting at the bottom of the ladder by round nine. Their fortunes started to turn when they caused the boilover of the 2011 season, upsetting the Melbourne Storm
in Melbourne
by 20-12. This was Canberra's first win in the Victorian capital since 2000. This was tempered by being held scoreless for the first time at home in their history by Melbourne in round 19, losing 26-0. One other unlikely win to the Raiders against a 7th place Bulldogs at home 20-12 has kept the momentum building as the Raiders look to turn their season around.
extra time to win the Toyota Cup (Under 20s) Premiership in the lead-up game to the NRL Grand Final
on 5 October 2008. In 2009 the team was unsuccessful in defending its National Youth Competition title, finishing eighth at the end of the regular season. The team were able to upset the minor premiers Manly in week one of the finals but lost to the Wests Tigers in week two ending their title defence.
Since inception, the Raiders' team colours have been lime green and white with blue and gold bands. In recent years, the "away" strip for the team has been mostly white, with lime green, blue and gold bands. The lime green was chosen as the main colour as it differentiated the side from other club's colours. The blue and gold were included in the Raiders colours as they are the traditional sporting colours of the Australian Capital Territory
.
The original jersey's design was chosen through a competition held by the club in 1981. The winning entrant was Ms Patricia Taylor, whose design was duly adopted.
Blake Ferguson
(from Cronulla Sharks
) Matt Orford
(from Bradford Bulls
) Brett White
(from Melbourne Storm
) Nathan Massey (from Canterbury Bulldogs
NYC) Mark Ioane (from New Zealand Warriors
)
OUT
Justin Carney
(to Sydney Roosters
) Marc Herbert
(to Bradford Bulls
) Brett Kelly
(to Avignon
) Adam Mogg
(Retirement) Joel Monaghan
(to Warrington Wolves
) Scott Logan
(Retirement) Troy Thompson
(to Melbourne Storm
)
, Brad Haddin, Brendan Jones, Bob Hawke
and Michael Milton
.
Statistics & Information Sites
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) premiership since 1982. Over this twenty-nine season period the club has won 3 premierships, (out of 5 Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
s played), received 1 wooden spoon and had a total of 15 of its players (9 New South Wales Blues
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and 6 Queensland Maroon
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
s) selected to don the green and gold for Australia. The Raiders' current home ground is Canberra Stadium
Canberra Stadium
Canberra Stadium is a facility primarily used for rugby league and rugby union games, located adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the capital of Australia...
in Bruce
Bruce, Australian Capital Territory
Bruce is a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Bruce was gazetted as a division on 6 June 1968 in recognition of Viscount Stanley Melbourne Bruce, the first Chancellor of the Australian National University and eighth Prime Minister of Australia. S. M. Bruce served as...
. Previously, the team played home matches at Seiffert Oval
Seiffert Oval
Seiffert Oval is a rugby league ground in Queanbeyan, New South Wales that served as the base of the Canberra Raiders for the first seven years of its existence . It also hosted an ACTRU v The British and Irish Lions fixture in 1989. It is now used to host games of the Queanbeyan Blues Rugby League...
in Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
, with the move to Canberra Stadium taking place in 1990. The official symbol for the Canberra Raiders is the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
. The Viking, also a mascot at Raiders' games, is known as Victor the Viking.
As part of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
's first expansion outside Sydney, the Raiders were admitted to the League, along with the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
in 1982. Over the following years they improved steadily, becoming the first non-Sydney team to make the finals (1984), feature in a grand final (1987) and win a premiership (1989). This heralded a period of great success for the club, with five grand final appearances and three premierships in eight years. During this period, the Raiders boasted international players such as Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
, Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley OA is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of Indigenous Australian descent. He represented Australia on 26 occasions and has since been named as one of the nation's finest players of the 20th century...
, Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
, Glenn Lazarus
Glenn Lazarus
Glenn Patrick Lazarus is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who has been named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century. He primarily played at prop forward, representing Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin...
and Steve Walters
Steve Walters
Steve Walters is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s, who at the peak of his career, was considered the best hooker in the game. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland Maroons representative, he played in the Canberra Raiders' 1st, 2nd and 3rd grand final...
. After this came the Super League war
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
, with the Raiders switching to the rebel competition before continuing to compete in the re-unified NRL. During the 2000s the Raiders suffered from an exodus of experience. At the beginning of the 2009 season, the Raiders squad contained only four players who have played at the representative level. Joel Monaghan
Joel Monaghan
Joel Monaghan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves in Super League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played for the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters...
and Terry Campese
Terry Campese
Terry Campese is an Australian professional rugby league footballer, of Italian descent for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League competition...
each represented the Australian side during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, with Monaghan also playing for the NSW blues during the third game of the 2008 State of Origin Series. Also, Bronson Harrison has represented New Zealand. However call ups for captain Alan Tongue to Country Origin, David Shillington to the Queensland State of Origin side and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs to the New South Wales Origin side now sees the Raiders with a solid spread of representative players in their squad.
History
At the beginning of the 1980s, the New South Wales Rugby Football LeagueNew South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
(NSWRFL) was looking to expand its Sydney-based premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
into other areas of the state. The Canberra franchise was accepted in 1981 as the 14th team for the 1982 NSWRFL season. Along with the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
who were also introduced that season, they became the first NSWRFL club based outside Sydney since the old Newcastle
Newcastle Rebels
Newcastle were a rugby league team who played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership from 1908–1909, one of the nine foundation clubs. After the formation of several clubs in January 1908, members of the NSWRFL came to Newcastle to hold talks with the local footballing community...
team left in 1909.
1980s
The club's initial seasons were a mixed bag, with the team earning the Wooden Spoon in their debut year. The team was notorious for late game collapses, leading to the nicknames "Canberra Faders" and "Pine Lime SplicesSplice (ice cream)
A 'Splice' is an Australian ice cream confectionery consisting of ice cream encased in frozen fruit flavoured ice. A wooden stick is set into the ice cream for ease of consumption. The Splice is manufactured by Unilever under the Streets brand name...
", in what was also a reference to the team's colours. In fact, no team has conceded more tries in a season than the 1982 Raiders. The first points recorded by the Canberra Raiders were scored by Peter McGrath (later to become Chairman of the Australian Rugby Union). McGrath finished with 41 points in his first and only season with the Raiders. The club's first win, a 12–11 heartstopper v Newtown, came in its 8th match, and 3 more wins followed, most notably against then competition leaders Souths. 1983 saw 9 wins, more than doubling 1982's four. However, the team continued to struggle to win away from home. An away win first up in 1984 foreshadowed a much improved season, a positive winning record (13–11) snagging a playoff for fifth versus Souths. But this game was lost (4–23), and the Raiders had still not succeeded in reaching the semi-finals of the competition.
1985 saw regression, with the team winning only 8 games (though the reserves did reach the Grand Final). Though 1986 was similarly disappointing, the team had a core group of players, such as Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
, Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Souths and in the NSWRL...
, Steve Walters
Steve Walters
Steve Walters is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s, who at the peak of his career, was considered the best hooker in the game. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland Maroons representative, he played in the Canberra Raiders' 1st, 2nd and 3rd grand final...
, and John Ferguson who would greatly influence the coming decade.
This was the most successful period in the Raiders' short history, with 5 Grand Finals and 3 premierships. In 1987, the team finished third, resulting in a maiden semi-finals appearance. Despite losing their first finals match against Easts, the Raiders rallied to defeat Souths (46–12) and Easts again (32–24). The latter earned the team a place in the Grand Final, but they were never really competitive against minor premiers Manly, going down 8–18.
Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley OA is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of Indigenous Australian descent. He represented Australia on 26 occasions and has since been named as one of the nation's finest players of the 20th century...
, Peter Jackson and Glenn Lazarus
Glenn Lazarus
Glenn Patrick Lazarus is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who has been named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century. He primarily played at prop forward, representing Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin...
debuted this year. 1988 featured free-scoring (over 100 tries in 22 games) and a number of large victories, with the team again finishing in third place on the ladder. Unfortunately, a narrow loss against Canterbury
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
in the Major Semi-Final was followed by defeat against Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
and an early exit.
Notable players starting out in 1988 were Bradley Clyde
Bradley Clyde
Bradley Clyde is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who, at the peak of his playing career was widely acknowledged as the best lock forward in the game....
, and Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
.
With 5 rounds to play in the 1989 season, Canberra were 7th and in danger of missing the semis. But a hard fought 14–10 win over Easts started a 9 match winning streak, culminating in the club's first Premiership. In one of the all-time great Grand Finals, the Raiders sent the game into extra time after a late John Ferguson try that was converted by Meninga. Steve Jackson scored the winning try to win the premiership for the Raiders. The Raiders then went on to play in England at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in the first official World Club Challenge
1989 World Club Challenge
The 1989 World Club Challenge was the third ever and first official World Club Challenge match. 1989's NSWRL season premiers, the Canberra Raiders traveled to England to play against 1988–89 RFL champions, Widnes.The match was played on Wednesday, 4 October at Old Trafford, Manchester...
against 1988–89 RFL champions, Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
. However they were not able to win going down 30–18 in front of 30,768 people.
1990s
1990 was a stellar year for the club at all levels. All three grades making the Grand Final, with only the reserves losing. The first grade side earned their first Minor Premiership and a second consecutive title, defeating PenrithPenrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in the decider. Trouble brewed in 1991 as the club was embroiled in salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
hardships. Nonetheless, a fourth Grand Final birth was secured – the team's third in a row. However, the team went down to Penrith in a repeat of the 1990 Grand Final. Jason Croker, the team's longest serving player, debuted this year.
The fallout from the salary cap imbroglio saw several players leave the club, most prominently Glenn Lazarus, Brent Todd, David Barnhill, Nigel Gaffey and Paul Martin. An average performance resulted, with the Raiders missing the finals for the first time since 1986. David Furner
David Furner
David Furner is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Canberra Raiders of the NRL...
, son of former Raiders and Australian coach Don Furner
Don Furner
Don Furner is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. As a player he represented Queensland on nine occasions and also toured with the 1956–57 Kangaroos....
, started out in this year.
Since their final premiership in 1994, the Raiders have been unable to scale their previous heights, largely due to their inability to lure representative players to the capital. The team bowed out in Round 1 of the 1996 finals series, losing to St George. The next year, they were one of several teams that joined the breakaway Super League competition
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
, losing in the preliminary final to the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
. It was upon rejoining the newly formed National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
the following year that the team began their decline. The Raiders' problems came to a head in the late 1990s, when club legends Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
and Bradley Clyde
Bradley Clyde
Bradley Clyde is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who, at the peak of his playing career was widely acknowledged as the best lock forward in the game....
were forced out in order to accommodate players such as Brett Finch
Brett Finch
Brett Finch is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League...
. Finch would ironically leave the Raiders soon after to play under Stuart, now a coach at the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
.
2000s
The Raiders had mixed results in the new millennium, often finishing just inside or just outside the final eight and usually being bundled out of the finals in the early weeks, However, in 2003, the Raiders unexpectedly led the competition for most of the season, almost clinching the minor premiership. The Raiders then lost narrowly to the Melbourne StormMelbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in the opening finals game, but still advanced to Week 2 due to ladder position. In one of the closest games in recent history, the Raiders were eclipsed by one point in the preliminary final by the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
and eliminated from the 2003 competition.
Many fans believed the achievements of 2003 would be improved in the following years. However, the Raiders finished a disappointing 8th in 2004, being knocked out in week one of the finals by the Sydney Roosters. Club legends Ruben Wiki
Ruben Wiki
Ruben Wiki, ONZM is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative centre-turned-prop forward, he retired with the record for most number of international appearances of any rugby league player in history...
and Mark McLinden
Mark McLinden
Mark McLinden is an Australian professional rugby union and rugby league player.Mark McLinden plays for the Queensland Reds, in the Super 14. He previously played Rugby League for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League and Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League.McLinden's...
left the Raiders for other clubs in this year. Wiki's loss, in particular, was a bitter pill to swallow for many Raiders fans, as it was found that the New Zealand Warriors had significantly breached the salary cap in signing him (the Warriors eventually paid the price for this, being docked four competition points at the beginning of the 2006 season). The 2005 side was written off by fans and critics alike, as the club's two major signings, Jason Smith and Matt Adamson
Matt Adamson
Matt Adamson is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative second-row forward, he played club football in Australia with the Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, and Canberra Raiders,...
, were ageing veterans considered well past their prime. However, both, particularly Smith, proved formidable campaigners, and the Raiders were joint competition leaders in Round 10. But as the season progressed, injuries took their toll and the Raiders finished second last on points differential to the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. The Raiders started season 2006 heavy favourites to run last, but despite this pessimism and heavy losses to the Knights and the Roosters early on, fought back and guaranteed themselves a finals berth with a round to play.
2006 saw club stalwarts Simon Woolford
Simon Woolford
Simon Woolford is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in the National Rugby League competition for the Canberra Raiders, captaining the side before moving to the St. George Illawarra Dragons. His usual position was at hooker...
, Clinton Schifcofske
Clinton Schifcofske
Clinton Schifcofske is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Crusaders in the European Super League. He has previously played for Irish rugby union club Ulster in the Magners League competition and also he spent a year with Queensland Reds in the Super 14...
and the club's longest serving player, Jason Croker
Jason Croker
Jason Croker is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative utility player, he previously played club football in the NRL for the Canberra Raiders, with whom he won the 1994 Winfield Cup and set club...
, leave the club, going to St George Illawarra, the Queensland Reds rugby union team and the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
respectively. Outgoing backs Schifcofske and Adam Mogg both earned representative berths with Queensland in State of Origin. Saturday 9 September 2006 saw Jason Croker, Simon Woolford, Clinton Schifcofske, Michael Hodgson, Jason Smith and Adam Mogg all play their final games for the club. The round one finals series clash with the Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
saw the Raiders defeated 30–12 in slippery and muddy conditions at Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
, and eliminated from the 2006 premiership race. This was also the final match for coach Matthew Elliott, who is coaching Penrith in 2007. His replacement is former North Queensland Cowboys' assistant coach Neil Henry.
In 2007, the Raiders were an unknown quantity. Having lost star players such as Schifcofske, Smith, Croker and Woolford in key positions, the Raiders found themselves with a new captain in Alan Tongue
Alan Tongue
Alan Tongue in is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A Country New South Wales representative forward, he captained of the Canberra Raiders for several seasons in the National Rugby League competition.-Early years:While attending Farrer Memorial Agricultural...
relying on young, inexperienced players such as Todd Carney
Todd Carney
Todd Carney is an Australian professional rugby league football player. Carney has represented Australia, Country New South Wales and, in the National Rugby League, the Canberra Raiders between 2003 and 2008, and the Sydney Roosters between 2010 and 2011...
, William Zillman
William Zillman
William Gary Zillman is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played for the Canberra Raiders and is contracted with the Gold Coast Titans for the 2009 season.- Before the NRL :...
and Michael Dobson
Michael Dobson (rugby)
Michael Dobson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the Hull Kingston Rovers club of the Super League competition, in 2009 he won the prestigious Albert Goldthorpe Medal.-Career :...
to step up and take on more prominent roles within the team. The sense of inexperience was reinforced by the selection of Neil Henry
Neil Henry
Neil Henry is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Since 2009 he has been head coach for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League. Henry previously played for, then coached the Canberra Raiders.Henry was a foundation player of the Raiders,...
as coach, despite his lack of first-grade coaching experience. Though the Raiders were bolstered by late season signings Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan is a professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin and Papua New Guinea international representative, Costigan previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and most recently, the St...
and Matt Bickerstaff
Matt Bickerstaff
Matt Bickerstaff is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, several critics believed that the Raiders' significant loss of experience would result in their "winning" the wooden spoon.
2007 was, overall, a disappointing season for the Raiders, who finished in 14th place despite entering the top 8 midway through the season. However, two players – Phil Graham
Phil Graham
Philip Leslie Graham was an American publisher and businessman. He was the publisher and co-owner of The Washington Post...
for Country Origin and Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan is a professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin and Papua New Guinea international representative, Costigan previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and most recently, the St...
for Queensland – achieved representative status. The season was notable for the difference in the team's performance at and away from home, with just 2 of their 9 wins occurring outside Canberra. Coach Neil Henry
Neil Henry
Neil Henry is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Since 2009 he has been head coach for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League. Henry previously played for, then coached the Canberra Raiders.Henry was a foundation player of the Raiders,...
incurred a fine of $10 000 for questioning the impartiality of the referee after the round 19 clash.
The 2008 season started with some promise for the Raiders – a good showing despite a loss in round 1 vs. Newcastle was followed up with two solid wins against Penrith and St.George-Illawarra. The club then suffered a series of losses, whilst snaring only the occasional victory, with a big come from behind victory against Wests being noteworthy. In the representative field, Todd Carney and Joel Monaghan
Joel Monaghan
Joel Monaghan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves in Super League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played for the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters...
picked for Country Origin, and Monaghan being a shadow player for the New South Wales Side.
In September 2008, despite a heavy injury toll, the Raiders guaranteed themselves a place in the NRL 2008 Finals Series winning seven of their last nine regular season games, a feat which was at the start of the season impossible according to Rugby League punditry in Australia. The Raiders semi-final appearance was brief, however. After being defeated by the Cronulla Sharks, the Raiders 6th place finish was considered to be enough to get them a second chance. However, a huge upset with 8th place New Zealand defeating minor premiers Melbourne saw the Raiders eliminated.
The season had not been without controversy however, with star halfback Todd Carney and fullback Bronx Goodwin being stood down by the club after an altercation at a Canberra nightclub following the round 19 win against the Roosters. Carney was eventually dismissed by the club after failing to agree to the punishment plan the club had laid out for him, Goodwin was also sacked from the club.
A slow start to the 2009 season saw the raiders lose to the tigers and the roosters. However with the help from under 20s debutants Josh Dugan, Jarrad Croker and Travis Waddell they won their next two matches. Despite a disappointing season for the raiders losing to many close games the raiders were able to beat the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
for the first time in 14 games and 7 years 26–16 in round 16 to keep their slim finals hopes alive. The Raiders also had a memorable win over the number one team at the time St George-Illawarra Dragons, by 24–12. Despite wins against three of the top four (St George Illawarra Dragons, Gold Coast Titans and the Melbourne Storm) and coming within three points of the other (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) losses to bottom placed teams Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters at home saw the raiders finish in 13th.
2010s
The 2010 season began traditionally poorly for the Raiders with a loss to PenrithPenrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in the opening round however against early-season expectations that the Raiders would again struggle the club posted early season wins over Brisbane in round two, Parramatta in round five and the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in round eight in New Zealand in what was the club's first win in New Zealand since the early 2000s. However, losses to Todd Carney's new club the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in round six and a narrow loss at home to the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in round seven saw the club sitting second from last after round seven (last had the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
not been stripped of competition points due to salary cap breaches) of the 2010 season. Wins over the ladder-leading Dragons and the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
followed until a four-game losing streak ensued; with the club sitting third from last after a round 17 home loss to the Roosters in what was Todd Carney
Todd Carney
Todd Carney is an Australian professional rugby league football player. Carney has represented Australia, Country New South Wales and, in the National Rugby League, the Canberra Raiders between 2003 and 2008, and the Sydney Roosters between 2010 and 2011...
's return to the nation's capital. The Raiders then began a run similar to that of Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
last year; winning eight of their next nine regular season matches to sneak into the top eight by season's end. The regular season's highest home attendance came when 20,445 fans filled Canberra Stadium to see the Raiders defeat the ladder-leading Dragons 32-16 for the second time in the season.
The Raiders advanced to the finals on the back of eight wins from their past nine and were drawn a tough away final against the second-placed Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
whom the Raiders had beaten just five weeks earlier. The Raiders led from the start and despite lapses at times during the match the Raiders managed to sniff out a narrow 24-22 win, thus achieving its first final win in a decade, which ironically was also against the Panthers. This saw the Raiders draw a home final against the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in round two of the finals. Having lost to the Tigers twice during the regular season, it was hoped that a record crowd of 26,746 would inspire the Raiders to continue their fairytale run deep into the finals, however a missed penalty attempt by Jarrod Croker
Jarrod Croker
Jarrod Croker is an Australian rugby league player. He plays for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League in the centres or as a winger....
in the final minutes of the match saw Canberra lose by 26-24 and therefore draw a curtain on the Raiders' 2010 season.
The Raiders off season didn't start well, with Joel Monaghan being sacked by the club for inappropriate behaviour with a team mates dog. This appeared to be a team building exercise, as photos surfaced showing the rest of the team cheering him on.
The Raiders, looking to build on their strong finish to the 2010 season in 2011, bolstered its already strong roster with the addition of Blake Ferguson
Blake Ferguson
Blake Ferguson is an Australian professional rugby League footballer for the Canberra Raiders of the NRL. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks....
, Brett White
Brett White
Brett White is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders, and formally of the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
and former Dally M medalist Matt Orford
Matt Orford
Matthew Orford is an Australian professional rugby league player, last playing for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League competition...
. The latter signing was an important one for the Raiders as vice-captain and star playmaker Terry Campese
Terry Campese
Terry Campese is an Australian professional rugby league footballer, of Italian descent for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League competition...
is out indefinitely due to a knee injury suffered in the semi-final loss to Wests at the end of the 2010 season.. After starting the season with a 40-16 thumping of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in round one, the Raiders have since lost their last eight matches in succession, and were sitting at the bottom of the ladder by round nine. Their fortunes started to turn when they caused the boilover of the 2011 season, upsetting the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
by 20-12. This was Canberra's first win in the Victorian capital since 2000. This was tempered by being held scoreless for the first time at home in their history by Melbourne in round 19, losing 26-0. One other unlikely win to the Raiders against a 7th place Bulldogs at home 20-12 has kept the momentum building as the Raiders look to turn their season around.
Toyota Cup (Under 20s)
The Raiders' Toyota Cup team won 28–24 over the Broncos' team in golden pointGolden point
The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
extra time to win the Toyota Cup (Under 20s) Premiership in the lead-up game to the NRL Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
on 5 October 2008. In 2009 the team was unsuccessful in defending its National Youth Competition title, finishing eighth at the end of the regular season. The team were able to upset the minor premiers Manly in week one of the finals but lost to the Wests Tigers in week two ending their title defence.
Season summaries
| Competition | Games Played | Games Won | Games Drawn | Games Lost | Ladder Position | |R | |F | |CrowdAverage | Details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 14th | |
Don Furner Don Furner is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. As a player he represented Queensland on nine occasions and also toured with the 1956–57 Kangaroos.... |
David Grant (rugby league) David "Nana" Grant was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. He played for a number of teams in the New South Wales Rugby Football League competition.... |
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| 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 9th | Allan McMahon Allan McMahon was an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was an Australian test player and a former coach of the Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights and Illawarra Steelers.-Playing career:... |
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| 24(1) | 13(0) | 0(0) | 11(1) | 6th | |
Ron Giteau Ron Giteau is an Australian former professional rugby league player. A prolific point-scoring centre, he was captain of the Canberra Raiders team in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership... |
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| 22 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 10th | |
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| 24 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 11th | Dean Lance Dean Lance is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach, and current football manager at the North Queensland Cowboys of the NRL. He played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in the 1980s for the Newtown and Canberra clubs, captaining the Raiders for almost 5... |
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| 24(4) | 15(2) | 0(0) | 9(2) | 3rd | |
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Don Furner Don Furner is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. As a player he represented Queensland on nine occasions and also toured with the 1956–57 Kangaroos.... & Wayne Bennett |
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| 22(2) | 15(0) | 0(0) | 9(2) | 3rd | |
Tim Sheens Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos... |
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| 22(4) | 14(4) | 0(0) | 8(0) | 4th | |
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Mal Meninga Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century... |
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| 22(3) | 16(2) | 1(0) | 5(1) | 1st | |
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| 22(4) | 14(3) | 0(0) | 6(1) | 4th | |
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| 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 12th | |
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| 22(2) | 16(0) | 1(0) | 5(2) | 3rd | |
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| 22(4) | 17(3) | 0(0) | 5(1) | 3rd | |
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| 22(2) | 20(1) | 0(0) | 2(1) | 2nd | |
Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series... |
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| 21(1) | 13(0) | 1(0) | 7(1) | 6th | |
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| 18(3) | 11(1) | 0(0) | 7(2) | 3rd | |
Mal Meninga Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century... |
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| 24(2) | 15(1) | 0(0) | 9(1) | 7th | |
Laurie Daley Laurie Daley OA is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of Indigenous Australian descent. He represented Australia on 26 occasions and has since been named as one of the nation's finest players of the 20th century... |
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| 24 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 9th | |
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| 26(2) | 15(1) | 0(0) | 11(1) | 4th | |
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| 26 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 11th | Simon Woolford Simon Woolford is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in the National Rugby League competition for the Canberra Raiders, captaining the side before moving to the St. George Illawarra Dragons. His usual position was at hooker... |
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| 24(1) | 10(0) | 1(0) | 13(1) | 8th | |
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| 24(2) | 16(0) | 0(0) | 8(2) | 4th | |
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| 24(1) | 11(0) | 0(0) | 13(1) | 8th | |
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| 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 14th | |
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| 24(1) | 13(0) | 0(0) | 11(1) | 7th | |
Clinton Schifcofske Clinton Schifcofske is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Crusaders in the European Super League. He has previously played for Irish rugby union club Ulster in the Magners League competition and also he spent a year with Queensland Reds in the Super 14... |
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2006 Canberra Raiders season The 2006 Canberra Raiders season was the 25th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2006 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 7th to make the finals... |
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| 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 14th | Neil Henry Neil Henry is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Since 2009 he has been head coach for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League. Henry previously played for, then coached the Canberra Raiders.Henry was a foundation player of the Raiders,... |
Alan Tongue Alan Tongue in is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A Country New South Wales representative forward, he captained of the Canberra Raiders for several seasons in the National Rugby League competition.-Early years:While attending Farrer Memorial Agricultural... |
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| 24(1) | 13(0) | 0(0) | 11(1) | 6th | |
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| 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 13th | David Furner David Furner is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Canberra Raiders of the NRL... |
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2010 NRL season The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium... |
24(2) | 13(1) | 0(0) | 11(1) | 7th | |
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2010 Canberra Raiders season The 2010 Canberra Raiders season was the 29th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2010 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 7th... |
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2011 NRL season The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the... |
24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 15th | 2011 Canberra Raiders season The 2011 Canberra Raiders season will be the clubs 30th anniversary. They will compete in the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership.-Season summary:... |
Emblem and colours
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
.
The original jersey's design was chosen through a competition held by the club in 1981. The winning entrant was Ms Patricia Taylor, whose design was duly adopted.
Current squad
2011 player transfers
INBlake Ferguson
Blake Ferguson
Blake Ferguson is an Australian professional rugby League footballer for the Canberra Raiders of the NRL. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks....
(from Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
) Matt Orford
Matt Orford
Matthew Orford is an Australian professional rugby league player, last playing for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League competition...
(from Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
) Brett White
Brett White
Brett White is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders, and formally of the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
(from Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
) Nathan Massey (from Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
NYC) Mark Ioane (from New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
)
OUT
Justin Carney
Justin Carney
Justin Carney is an Australian rugby league player with the Sydney Roosters. He plays in the centres or as a winger and has represented the New South Wales Schoolboys. Carney scored two tries on debut in a 34–16 win over the Brisbane Broncos...
(to Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
) Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert is a Rugby League player who is now unattached after being released by the Bradford Bulls at the end of the 2011 season. He made his NRL debut in the Round 20 clash vs. the Gold Coast Titans, in place of the suspended Todd Carney...
(to Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
) Brett Kelly
Brett Kelly (rugby league)
Brett Kelly born in Australia is a rugby league player for SO Avignon in the Elite One Championship. He previously played with the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.Brett Kelly's position of choice is as a centre....
(to Avignon
Sporting Olympique Avignon
Sporting Olympique Avignon also known as Avignon XIII or SO Avignon are a professional rugby league team based in Avignon in the south of France...
) Adam Mogg
Adam Mogg
Adam Mogg is an Australian rugby league coach and former footballer.-Playing career:Mogg spent five years with the Redcliffe Dolphins, participating in four grand finals in the Queensland Cup and winning the club's player of the year award in 2001, before being scouted in 2002 by the Parramatta...
(Retirement) Joel Monaghan
Joel Monaghan
Joel Monaghan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves in Super League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played for the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters...
(to Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
) Scott Logan
Scott Logan
Scott Logan is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the Canberra Raiders. His position is prop. He has been described as, "one of the most durable props of the modern era."-Playing career:...
(Retirement) Troy Thompson
Troy Thompson (rugby league)
Troy Thompson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition . He primarily plays as a prop or as a second rower....
(to Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
)
25-Year Dream Team
This is the 25-man "Dream Team" picked in the Canberra Times to celebrate the club's 25th season in 2006Honours
b>Premierships (3/28)
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b>Runners Up (2/28)
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b>Minor Premierships (1/28)
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b>Wooden Spoon (1/28)
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- NSWRL Premier League: 1
-
- 2003
- New South Wales Rugby League Club Championships: 1
- 1990
- Channel TEN Challenge Cup: 1
- 1990
- Tooheys Challenge Cup: 1
- 1993
- Jersey Flegg CupJersey Flegg CupThe Jersey Flegg Cup was a junior rugby league competition played in New South Wales, contested among teams made up of players aged under 20. The competition was administered by the New South Wales Rugby League and run concurrently with the National Rugby League...
: 3
- Jersey Flegg Cup
- 1989, 1993, 2008
- National Youth Competition: 1
- 2008
- Presidents Cup: 2
- 1990, 1995
- S.G. Ball CupS.G. Ball CupThe S G Ball Cup is a junior rugby league football competition played in New South Wales, played between teams made up of players aged under 18. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. The competition includes both junior representative teams of NRL and NSW Cup clubs...
: 2
- S.G. Ball Cup
- 1995, 2005
- Harold Matthews CupHarold Matthews CupThe NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup is a junior rugby league competition played in New South Wales between teams made up of players aged under 16. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League...
: 4
- Harold Matthews Cup
- 1978, 1984, 1993, 1995
- 2003
Supporters
Notable supporters of the club include Mark WebberMark Webber
Mark Alan Webber is an Australian Formula One driver.After some racing success in Australia, Webber moved to the United Kingdom in 1995 to further his motorsport career...
, Brad Haddin, Brendan Jones, Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
and Michael Milton
Michael Milton
Michael John Milton, OAM is an Australian Winter Paralympic skier and cyclist. He lost a leg to bone cancer when he was nine years old...
.
External links
Official SitesStatistics & Information Sites